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worship of Venus were connected many demoralizing rites and ceremonies。 The
Corinthians had become conspicuous； even among the heathen； for their gross
immorality。 They seemed to have little thought or care beyond the pleasures
and gaieties of the hour。
In preaching the gospel in Corinth； the apostle followed a course different
from that which had marked his labors at Athens。 While in the latter place；
he had sought to adapt his style to the character of his audience； he had
met logic with logic； science with science； philosophy with philosophy。 As
he thought of the time thus spent； and realized that his teaching in Athens
had been productive of but little fruit； he decided to follow another plan
of labor in Corinth in his efforts to arrest the attention of the careless
and the indifferent。 He determined to avoid elaborate arguments and
discussions； and 〃not to know anything〃 among the Corinthians 〃save Jesus
Christ； and Him crucified。〃 He would preach to them 〃not with enticing words
of man's wisdom； but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power。〃
1 Corinthians 2：2； 4。
Jesus； whom Paul was about to present before the Greeks in Corinth as the
Christ； was a Jew of lowly origin； reared in a town proverbial for its
wickedness。 He had been rejected by His own nation and at last crucified as
a malefactor。 The Greeks believed that there was need of elevating the human
race； but they regarded the study of philosophy and science as the only
means of attaining to true elevation and honor。 Could Paul lead them to
believe that faith in the power of this obscure Jew would uplift and ennoble
every power of the being？
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To the minds of multitudes living at the present time； the cross of Calvary
is surrounded by sacred memories。 Hallowed associations are connected with
the scenes of the crucifixion。 But in Paul's day the cross was regarded with
feelings of repulsion and horror。 To uphold as the Saviour of mankind one
who had met death on the cross； would naturally call forth ridicule and
opposition。
Paul well knew how his message would be regarded by both the Jews and the
Greeks of Corinth。 〃We preach Christ crucified；〃 he admitted； 〃unto the Jews
a stumbling block； and unto the Greeks foolishness。〃 1 Corinthians 1：23。
Among his Jewish hearers there were many who would be angered by the message
he was about to proclaim。 In the estimation of the Greeks his words would be
absurd folly。 He would be looked upon as weak…minded for attempting to show
how the cross could have any connection with the elevation of the race or
the salvation of mankind。
But to Paul the cross was the one object of supreme interest。 Ever since he
had been arrested in his career of persecution against the followers of the
crucified Nazarene he had never ceased to glory in the cross。 At that time
there had been given him a revelation of the infinite love of God； as
revealed in the death of Christ； and a marvelous transformation had been
wrought in his life； bringing all his plans and purposes into harmony with
heaven。 From that hour he had been a new man in Christ。 He knew by personal
experience that when a sinner once beholds the love of the Father； as seen
in the sacrifice of His Son； and yields to the divine influence； a change of
heart takes place； and henceforth Christ is all and in all。
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At the time of his conversion； Paul was inspired with a longing desire to
help his fellow men to behold Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of the living
God； mighty to transform and to save。 Henceforth his life was wholly devoted
to an effort to portray the love and power of the Crucified One。 His great
heart of sympathy took in all classes。 〃I am debtor；〃 he declared； 〃both to
the Greeks； and to the barbarians； both to the wise； and to the unwise。〃
Romans 1：14。 Love for the Lord of glory； whom he had so relentlessly
persecuted in the person of His saints； was the actuating principle of his
conduct； his motive power。 If ever his ardor in the path of duty flagged；
one glance at the cross and the amazing love there revealed； was enough to
cause him to gird up the loins of his mind and press forward in the path of
self…denial。
Behold the apostle preaching in the synagogue at Corinth； reasoning from the
writings of Moses and the prophets； and bringing his hearers down to the
advent of the promised Messiah。 Listen as he makes plain the work of the
Redeemer as the great high priest of mankindthe One who through the
sacrifice of His own life was to make atonement for sin once for all； and
was then to take up His ministry in the heavenly sanctuary。 Paul's hearers
were made to understand that the Messiah for whose advent they had been
longing； had already come； that His death was the antitype of all the
sacrificial offerings； and that His ministry in the sanctuary in heaven was
the great object that cast its shadow backward and made clear the ministry
of the Jewish priesthood。
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Paul 〃testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ。〃 From the Old Testament
Scriptures he showed that according to the prophecies and the universal
expectation of the Jews； the Messiah would be of the lineage of Abraham and
of David； then he traced the descent of Jesus from the patriarch Abraham
through the royal psalmist。 He read the testimony of the prophets regarding
the character and work of the promised Messiah； and His reception and
treatment on the earth； then he showed that all these predictions had been
fulfilled in the life； ministry； and death of Jesus of Nazareth。
Paul showed that Christ had come to offer salvation first of all to the
nation that was looking for the Messiah's coming as the consummation and
glory of their national existence。 But that nation had rejected Him who
would have given them life； and had chosen another leader； whose reign would
end in death。 He endeavored to bring home to his hearers the fact that
repentance alone could save the Jewish nation from impending ruin。 He
revealed their ignorance concerning the meaning of those Scriptures which it
was their chief boast and glory that they fully understood。 He rebuked their
worldliness； their love of station； titles； and display； and their
inordinate selfishness。
In the power of the Spirit； Paul related the story of his own miraculous
conversion and of his confidence in the Old Testament Scriptures； which had
been so completely fulfilled in Jesus of Nazareth。 His words were spoken
with solemn earnestness； and his hearers could not but discern
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that he loved with all his heart the crucified and risen Saviour。 They saw
that his mind was centered in Christ； that his whole life was bound up with
his Lord。 So impressive were his words； that only those who were filled with
the bitterest hatred against the Christian religion could stand unmoved by
them。
But the Jews of Corinth closed their eyes to the evidence so clearly
presented by the apostle； and refused to listen to his appeals。 The same
spirit that had led them to reject Christ； filled them with wr